Firstly nice topic mate
Ok, a few qoutes.
customer "Its a little dark is it not",
me "Its only 4.30 in the afternoon".
customer "Are you seriously going to clean windows in that", light drizzel coming down
me "As long as your windows are clean, then I have done what your paying me for, and the weather wont change that, if it does I will do it again or not charge you"
customer "No, no, I dont mean you cant work in it, I just mean it cant be nice for you to work in the rain".
me "Thats a fact of life when you work outside, you have to bear the weather".
customer "Can you give them close doors a quick wipe with your thingmy bob, and those windows".
I then went on to count them up 22 pains of glass plus 2 glass doors.
me "That would cost about £20 in and out".
customer "Oh the last window cleaner just did it for me for free, it didn't take him that long at all".
me "
, that why he's not in business now, I would amagine".
same customer, stopped doing her for months because I could get money of her regularly, always trying to give me part payment etc.
customer"would you mind doing my window again for me, I've got the money here" she shows me a tenner.
me"Ok, but keep your money for now until Iam done, so I know you are happy with the work before you pay me"
I go and do the windows
me "Are you quite happy with them"
customer"Yes, I can see out of them now"
me "Ok, thats £7 then"
Customer "Ohh, I thought it was only one pound"
me "
no, its always been £7, I dont mean to be rude, but nobody in there right mind would take on a job for one pound".
got my money and once again DROPPED!
On the phone
customer "Hi I live X place". about 3/four miles away
customer "Can you come out and give me a qoute"
me "No problem, what day suits you"
customer " X day would be fine, its only the front one I want done".
Me "No probs I will see you there"
Hung up the phone
me "Like hell I will, four mile for one window".
I had one customer, said her window cleaner hadn't been round for ages and asked if I could do them, gave her a qoute and day and went by. Did all the windows var the last one, and when I got the the last window another woman came to the window as I want puting my ladder in place
customer "your not doing this one are you"
me "yes, but it was mrs bla bla that asked me to come by the other day"
customer "no a guy was round yesterday and did them, I am not paying for them twice"
I ask the customer to go to the door and walk round
'knock knock knock!'
customer comes to the door
me "Ok, first nobody from my company was round, and mrs bla bla agreed to a verbal contract that I do the windows on this day, for this amount which I have bar one, now if you are refusing to pay, you will be invoiced for the amount"
customer "that fine incoice me"
I came back five minutes later after going home and printing the invoice handed it to her and told her I would be back to collect the money later. The next day I went up and said "right I am here to collect the outstanding amount I have invoiced you for".
and I got my money and dropped her immediately.
You really do meet all sorts of walks of like in this job.
gerard